“I have a dream.” Isn’t this how many of our journeys begin? No matter how wild, how unhinged, how decadent… if there is a will, there is always a way. So what is your Icelandic dream tour?
It could begin with a friendly face welcoming you at Keflavik, Iceland’s international airport. You are escorted to a comfortable SUV and you just know you are in good hands. Why not ask for some Icelandic tunes as your car speeds along the moss covered lava fields? Iceland has a long-standing tradition of folk and popular music (Ásgeir, Emiliana Torrini, Svavar Knutur, Amiina, Júníus Meyvant are a few personal favorites) and plenty of festivals (Dark Music Days, Iceland Airwaves, Secret Solstice) to satisfy any music lover.
Whether you opt for a fancy Reykjavik hotel or a private farm stay, your desire is our command. A centrally located hotel is optimal for exploring the city on foot (Fancy hiring a private guide? Just ask!) but could we suggest that a night or two in a cosy Icelandic farmhouse in the south west of the country might be a more special start to your trip. You’ll be spoilt for choice: A visit to the nearby glacier? Of course! Exploring volcanic lava caves or hiking in unspoiled nature with your entire family? No problem. Ride an Icelandic horse, say hello to a local farmer, feast on organic produce. And we are only getting started. One of the firm favourites is an 8-day Highlights of Iceland tour that takes you around the treasures of the south coast, followed by the mystical East fjörds, and then all the way up north for a glimpse of the magnificent Dettifoss waterfall and lake Mývatn.
Iceland is called a land of fire and ice for a reason. While its terrain may appear cold and rigid, baby, it’s hot underneath. Geothermal areas, natural hot pools, and volcanoes sleeping (for now!) under the glaciers are just some of the natural wonders that make Iceland unique. Should you choose the Ice and Fire tour, an expert mountain guide will accompany you on an adventure that you will Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and write home about (and the one that will make everyone at home mega jealous).
Active types can check out a surfing school close to Þorlákshöfn, a family friendly fishing village in the south of Iceland and about 50 km from Reykjavik. And if you remember that infamous Eyjafjallajökull volcano eruption in May 2010 that put a stop to transatlantic travel and Iceland on a tourist map, the Adventure helicopter tour will take you there. You’ll fly above the famous black sand beaches and make a stop in the nearby Fimmvörðuháls area, where you can still feel the warmth from the newly formed lava when you touch it with your hand. It is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.
By Svetlana Graudt
Svetlana was born in Moscow, where as many as nine million people use the metro every day. After 12 years in London she moved to Reykjavik for love. Svetlana loves cities and reading long articles in The New Yorker.
